Lower South

June, 2011
Regional Report

Books

The Texas Tomato Lover's Handbook
First of all forget the word Texas in the title. The Texas Tomato Lover's Handbook by William D. Adams (Texas A&M University Press, 2011) is a must-have book for tomato growers across the South. Adams has over 30 years of experience both growing and teaching others to grow tomatoes. He is also a professional photographer. Put this all together and you have a book that walks you through every step of tomato growing, from preparing the soil through harvest, in easy to follow detail. No matter how brown the thumb, this book can help everyone become a tomato pro. Warning! Tomato growing and the pursuit of the perfect tomato is addictive!

Clever Gardening Technique

Root Tomato Cuttings
It will soon be time to plant tomatoes for a fall harvest. If your plants are too far gone to save, there is an easy way to get some more. Prune off the terminal 6-inches from tomato shoots and stick them down in a gallon pot filled with garden soil or potting mix. Set the pot in a bright shade location for a few days and wet the soil in the pot thoroughly. The shoots will be rooting in less than a week. As you see new growth, move them into more direct sun and plant whenever your garden spot is ready.